Valved service outlet



April 17, 1956 A E, MCKEE VALVED SERVICE OUTLET Filed sept. 15, 1951 ing the valved service outlet of United States Patent O VALVED SERVICE GUTLET Albert E. McKee, Chicago, lli. Application September 15, 1951, Serial No. 246,843

7 Claims. (Cl. 13m- 329.9

This invention is directed to service outlets for use in hospitals and so forth for oxygen administration and the like.

Many present day hospitals have been and are being equipped with central piping systems for oxygen, anesthetic gases and the like wherein the bottles of gas are located `in a central location and connected by piping to wall outlets in various rooms in the hospital. Such central piping systems eliminate the expense, handling and hazard of utilizing individual gas bottles for the various rooms. Generally speaking, these wall outlets in the various rooms have included a manual or automatic valve and a bayonet type connection to which various devices, such as iiow meters, valves and the like, are connected for administration purposes. These wall outlets have been of two general types, an exposed outlet type extending some three or four inches out from the wall and provided with 4a removable dust cap, and a cabinet type recessed in the wall and provided with a hinged cover plate for enclosing the same. The protruding exposed outlets of the rst type are subject to unauthorized tampering with disastrous results and also form a convenient means for hanging garments and the like, much to the consternation of the hospital personnel. The recessed cabinets of the second type collect dust and dirt and are, therefore, unsanitary and they form secretive repositories by patients of such articles as cigarettes,

matches and the like, also to the consternation of the hospital personnel. The bayonet type connection of these outlets is relatively complex and expensive to manufacture and to replace the automatic valves in these outlets requires removal of the outlets from the wall.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved valved service outlet for oxygen administration and the like wherein the aforementioned faults of the prior outlets are eliminated, wherein the valved service outlet may be liush mounted on a wall to eliminate recessed cabinets with doors and protruding extensions, wherein unauthorized tampering is minimized, wherein removable dust caps are eliminated, wherein the'auto matic valves may be replaced without removal of the service outlet from the wall, and wherein a simple and inexpensive coupler is provided for coupling a connecting tube into the valved service outlet.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the valved service outlet, the construction of `the connecting tube, the cooperative relationship between the valved service outlet and the connecting tube, and the cooperative relationship between the cornponent parts of the Valved service outlet.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying speciiication, claims and drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view partly in section `illustratthis invention lush mounted in a wall;

2,742,052 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrating a connecting tube and ilow meter coupled to the valved service outlet; l

Fig. 3 isan enlarged vertical sectional view of the valved service outlet taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the connecting tube coupled into the valved service outlet;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve element of the automatic valve means in the service outlet;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a view of the inside of the cover plate with the connecting tube inserted therein.

The valved service outlet of this invention is generally designated at 10 and it includes a valve body 11 preferably cylindrical in shape and formed of suitable metals, such as brass or the like. It has an inner closed end 12 and an outer open end 13. Intermediate its ends it is preferably provided with a shoulder 14 against which is located and brazed a mounting flange 15 preferably formed of expanded metal or the like. The mounting flange 15 is adapted to line up with the usual metal lath for receiving plaster 16 of a conventional wall. The mounting flange 15 is so located that the outer open end 13 is located flush with the outer surface 17 of the Wall carrying the valved service outlet 10.

rlhe valve body 11 is longitudinally provided with a passage 20 which is closed at the inner end 21 and open at the outer end. The passage 20 is provided with an internal shoulder 22 and a recessed internal shoulder 23 dividing the passage 20 into three parts having different diameters. A supply port 24 communicates with the smaller diameter part of the passage 20 adjacent the closed end 21 thereof and extends transversely therefrom, as indicated in the drawing vertically. This supply port 24 is provided with a valve seat 25 which is adapted to be engaged by a shut-olf valve 26 having a projection 27 extending into the passage 20. A pipe 28 communicates with the supply port 24 through the shutoff valve 26 and is brazed` into the valve body 11 for connecting the valve body to the supply of oxygen, anesthetic gases or the like of the central piping system. This pipe 28 internally carries a ttng 29 having a screen 30, the fitting 29 being pressed into the pipe 28. The pressure of the gas in the pipe 28 holds the shut-olf valve 26 closed when it is not forced to the open position. The screen 30 prevents foreign matter from entering the valve body 11. i

Automatic valve means is located within the passage 20 of the valve body 11 and it includes a valve element 32 having an extension 33 on one side. This extension 33' receives a spring 34 and a skirt 35. The spring 34 is interposed between the valve element 32 and the closed end 21 of the passage 20, the spring biasing the valve to the left as viewed in Fig. 3. When the valve element 32 and its associated skirt 35 are received in the passage 20, as illustrated in Figs. 3 andk 4, the skirt 35 holds the shut-oft' valve 26 open, as illustrated in these two figures. When, however, the valve element and its skirt are removed from the valve passage 2u, the shut-off valve 26 `automatically closes to prevent escape of gas through the valve body 11. The valve element 32, skirt 35 and spring 34 are adapted to be inserted and removed from the open front 13 of the valve body 11 so that the valve body 11 does not have to be removed from the wall for vreplacement or repair of the automatic valvemeans. The

valve element 32 also carries a valve stern `36 of substantially rectangular configuration which in turn is provided with operating shoulders 37,

A resilient seating Washer 4b, preferably having peripheral flanges, engages against the recessed shoulder 23 in the passage and it is tightly secured against the recessed shoulder by a retainer ring 4l, which is in turn secured in the passage 2t) by means of screw threads 42. The retainer ring 41 is provided with a flange having a plurality of holes 43 so that the retainer ring may be screwed tightly into place by a special tool or by the kpoints of a long nose pliers or the like. This resilient seating washer and the retainer ring 41 are also adapted to be inserted and removed from the open front end 13 of the valve body 11. The resilient seating washer may be made of suitable resilient material, such as rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic or the like.

The spring 34 normally biases the valve element 32 into engagement with the resilient seating washer 4t), as illustrated in Fig. 3, for shutting off the flow of gas through the valve body 11 even though the shut-off valve 26 is open. When the stem 36 is manipulated from the open front end of the valve body 11 to move the valve element 32 away from the seating Washer 40, as illustrated in Fig. 4, then gas passes from the supply port 24 through the passage 20 past the valve stem 36. As pointed out above, when the automatic valve means is removed from the valve body 11 the shut-oil valve 26 interrupts the supply of gas.

A cover plate overlies the open end 13 of the valve body 11 and it is preferably of larger diameter than the valve body 11 so as to seal the joint between the plaster wall 16 and the valve body 11 to provide a neat appearance. The cover plate 45 is secured to the valve lbody 11 by screws 46. The cover plate 45 is preferably provided with an internal annular tiange 47 titting into the larger diameter part of the passage 20 for accurately centering the cover plate 45 with respect to the valve body 11. This cover plate 45 is also provided with a central opening 48 preferably of double keyhole shape having a circular opening portion and radial slots 49. Leading from the slots 49 on the inside of the cover plate 45 is `a pair of cam surfaces 50 terminating in grooves 51. inside of the cover plate 45 is also provided with a pair of ears S2 and 53 for receiving a pin 54. This pin 54 pivotally mounts a door having a bearing sleeve 57 about the pin. The door 55 is of generally circular configuration and is provided with a pair of extensions 56, the door and its extensions covering the keyhole opening in the cover plate 45. A spring 58 is carried by the pin 54 and engages the 4door 55 and the inside of the cover plate 45 for normally biasing the door to closed position for closing the keyhole opening. This spring 58v also permits inward opening of the door 55 from the opening 48. The door operates tov prevent foreign matter from entering through the opening 48 into the valve body 11. The opening 48 in the cover plate 45y is of sufficiently small size to effectively prevent unauthorized tampering with the automatic valve means within the valve body. The door 55, in addition to eliminating entrance of foreign matter into the valve body 11, also restrains unauthorized tampering with the automatic valve means in the valve body.

The keyhole opening 4S in the cover plate 45 is adapted to receive a connecting tube 60 having a pair of projections 61 in the form of pins. The tube and the pins are inserted through the keyhole opening and the tube is then rotated to cause the projections or pins 61 to ride up the cam surfaces 50 into the grooves 51. When this occurs the connecting tube 6.0 is firmly locked or vcoupled in place in the valve body 11. When the connecting tube 60 is so inserted into the valve body 11 the inner eind 62 thereof engages the operating shoulders 37 of the valve stem 36 to move the valve element 32 away from the resilient seating .washer 40 toI open the automatic valve means. At the same time the inner end 62 of the conmeeting tube 60 engages the resilient seating washer 40 for sealing the connecting tube 60 in the passage 2 0.

The

Thus, the gas passing the valve stem 36 is conined within the connecting tube 6() and leakage about the connecting tube is eifectively prevented. When the connecting tube 66 is inserted into the keyhole opening 48 of the cover plate 45, the door 55 is automatically opened upon insertion. To remove the connecting tube 60 all that is necessary is to press slightly inwardly thereon to release the pins or projections 61 from thc grooves 51 and then slightly rotate the connecting tube 66 until the pins or projections 61 line up with the slots 49 of the keyhole opening 4d. The connecting tube 60 may then `be pulled outwardly from the valve body 11 and during this operation the valve element 32 automatically seats against the resilient seating washer 40 to interrupt any flow of gas through the valve body 11.

T he connecting tube 60 may be utilized for connecting any desired device into the valved service outlet 10. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, it may be utilized for connecting a flowmeter 65 having indicating means 66, a control valve67 and a discharge nipple 68.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become Vapparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. A valved service outlet for oxygen administration and the like comprising, a valve body having a passage open at one end and closed at the other and a transverse supply port communicating with the closed end of the passage, a resilient seating washer secured within the passage intermediate its ends, a valve element between the resilient seating washer and the closed end of the passage and having a stem protruding through the resilient seating washer, spring means between the closed end of the passage and the valve element for biasing the valve element against the adjacent side of the resilient seating washer for normally closing the passage, a cover plate secured to the valve body and overlying the open end of the passage and having an opening for insertion of a con necting tube which engages the stem of the valve element for moving the valve element away from the resilient seating washer to open the passage and which engages the other side of the resilient seating washer to seal the connecting tube in the passage, means on the cover plate for locking the discharge tube in inserted position, a door pivoted to the inside of the cover plate and overlying the opening therein and swingable inwardly therefrom, and a sprmg normally closing the door but permitting opening thereof upon insertion of the connecting tube.

7.. A valved service outlet for oxygen administration and the like comprising, a valve body having a passage open at one end and closed at the other and a transverse supply port communicating with the closed end of the passage, a resilient seating washer secured within the passage intermediate its ends, a valve element between the resilient seating washer and the closed end of the passage and having a stem protruding through the resilient seating washer, spring means between the closed end of the passage Yand the valve element for biasing the valve element against the adjacent side of the resilient seating washer for normally closing the passage, a cover plate secured to the valve body and overlying the open end of the passage and having a keyhole opening for insertion of a connecting tube provided with radial projections, the connecting tube when inserted engaging the stem of the valve element for moving the valve element away from the resilient seating Washer to open the passage and engaging the other side of the resilient seating washer to seal the connecting tube in the passage, cam means on the inside of the cover plate for engaging the radial projections on the connecting tube for locking the connecting tube in inserted position, a door pivoted. to the inside of the cover plate and overlying the opening therein and swingable inwardly therefrom, and a spring normally closing the door but permitting opening thereof upon insertion of the connecting tube.

3. A valved service outlet for oxygen administration and the like comprising, a valve body having a passage open at one end and closed aththe other and a supply port communicating with the closed end of the passage and arranged transversely thereto, a valve seat in the supply port, 4a shut-off valve for engaging the valveseat and having a projection extending into the passage, a resilient seating washer secured within the passage intermediate its ends, a valve element between the resilient seating washer and the closed end of the passage and having a stem protruding through the resilient seating washer and a skirt engaging the projection of said valve for at all times unseating said valve, spring means for biasing the valve element against the adjacent side of the Vresilient seating washer for normally closing the passage, said valve element being moved away from the resilient seating washer against the action of the spring means by manipulating the stem thereof from the open end of the passage, and said shut-off valve being moved against its seat by pressure in the supply port when said resilient seating washer, valve element, skirt and spring are removed from the passage.

4. A valved service outlet foroxygen administration and the like comprising, a valve body having a passage open at one end and closed at the other and a supply port communicating with the closed end of the passage and arranged transversely thereto, a valve seat in the supply port, a shut-off valve for engaging the valve seat and having a projection extending into the passage, said passage having a shoulder intermediate its ends, a resilient seating washer engaging the shoulder in the passage, a retainer ring inserted through the open end of the passage for securing the resilient seating washer against the shoulder, a resilient seating washer secured within the passage intermediate its ends, a valve element between the resilient seating washer and the closed end of the passage and having a stem protruding through the resilient seating washer and a skirt engaging the projection of said valve for at all times unseating said valve, spring means for biasing the valve element against the adjacent side `of the resilient seating washer for normally closing the passage, said valve element being moved away from the resilient seating washer against the action of the spring means by manipulating the stem thereof from the open end of the passage, and said shut-olf valve being moved against its seat by pressure in the supply port when said resilient seating washer, valve element, skirt and spring are removed from the passage.

5. A valved service outlet for hush mounting in a wall for oxygen administration and the like comprising, a valve body having a longitudinal passage closed at its rear and open at its front and a transverse supply port communicating with the rear closed endof the passage, a flange carried by the exterior of the valve body intermediate its ends for mounting the valve body in a wall with its front ilush with the face of the wall and with the transverse supply port behind the wall, valve means in the passage for opening and closing the passage and removably mounted and operated from the open front end of the passage, a cover plate removably secured to the front of the valve body and having an opening therein for insertion of a connecting tube which connects to the passage and opens the valve means therein, a door pivoted to the inside of the cover plate and overlying the opening therein and swingable inwardly therefrom, and a spring normally closing the door but permitting opening thereof upon insertion of the connecting tube.

6. A valved service outlet for ush mounting in a wall for oxygen administration and the like comprising, a valve body having a longitudinal passage closed at its rear and open at its front and a transverse supply port communicating with the rear closed end of the passage, a ange carried by the exterior of the valve body inter- 6 mediate its ends for mounting the valve body in a wall with its front flush with the face of the wall and with the transverse supply port behind the wall, said passage having a shoulder intermediate its ends, valve means including a valve element and a spring insertable from the open front end of the passage with the spring engaging the closed rear end of the passage and a resilient seating washed insertable from the open front end of the passage and engaging the shoulder, a retainer ring insertable from the open front end of the passage for securing the resilient seating washer against the shoulder, said spring biasing the valve element against the adjacent side of the resilient seating washer normally to close the passage and said valve element having a stem protruding through the resilient seating washer to be manipulated from the open front end of the passage for moving the valve element away from the resilient Seating washer against the action of the spring to open the passage, a cover plate removably secured to the front of the valve body and having an opening for insertion of a connecting tube which engages the stem of the valve element for moving the valve element away from the resilient seating washer to open the passage and which engages the other side of the resilient seating washer to seal the connecting tube in the passage, a door pivoted to the inside of thev cover plate and overlying the opening therein and swingable inwardly therefrom, and a spring normally closing the door but permitting opening thereof upon insertion of the connecting tube.

7. A valved service outlet for iiush mounting in a wall for oxygen administration and the like comprising, a valve body having a longitudinal passage closed at its rear and open at its front and a transverse supply port cornmunicating with the rear closed end of the passage, a iiange carried by the exterior of the valve body intermediate its ends for mounting the valve body in a wall with its front flush withl the face of the wall and with the transverse Supply port behind the wall, said passage having a shoulder intermediate its ends, valve means including a valve element and a spring insertable from the open front end of the passage with the spring engaging the closed rear end of the passage and a resilient'seating washer insertable from the open front end of the passage and engaging the shoulder, a retainer ring insertable from the open front end of the passage for securing the resilient seating Washer against the shoulder, said spring biasing the valve element against the adjacent side of the resilient seating washer normally to close the passage and said valve element having a stem protruding through the resilient seating washer to be manipulated from the open front end of the passage for moving the valve element away from the resilient seating Washer against the action of the spring to open the passage, a cover plate removably secured to the front of the valve body and having a keyhole opening for insertion of a connecting tube provided with radial projections, the connecting tube when inserted engaging the stem of the valve element for moving the valve element away from the resilient seating washer to open the passage and engaging the other side of the resilient seating washer to seal the connecting tube i in the passage, cam means on the inside of the cover plate for engaging the radial projections on the connecting tube for locking the connecting tube in inserted position, a door pivoted to the inside of the cover plate and overlying the opening therein and swingable inwardly therefrom, and a spring normally closing the door but permitting opening thereof upon insertion of the connecting tube.

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